Method and apparatus for providing subscriber-based ringback tone

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to method and apparatus for providing an arbitrary sound chosen by a called subscriber instead of ringback tone to a calling subscriber. In this present invention, if a call is received, a terminating exchanger requests a trunk connection to a sound db server based on the first information on whether or not to replace a ringback tone and the second information on a route to the sound db server that are received from a home location register (HLR), and provides a called subscriber identification for the sound server. Then, the sound db server searches its db for a sound specified by the called, and provides the found sound for the caller instead of a conventional ringback tone via the terminating exchanger connected through a trunk. Through this sequential procedure of network elements, a caller can hear a sound specified by a called instead of a dry ringback tone.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a 35 USC § 371 National Phase Entry Application fromPCT/KR03/00368, filed Feb. 25, 2003, and designating the U.S.

1. TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to method and apparatus for providing anarbitrary sound chosen by a called subscriber for a calling subscriberinstead of a conventional ringback tone.

2. BACKGROUND ART

When a subscriber calls another through a mobile communication network,a terminating exchanger on the network provides the caller with auniform ringback tone.

Since the ringback tone is same all the time, a caller can not identifya called before the called answers. Furthermore, the uniform ringbacktone can not satisfy various subscribers' needs to reveal theirindividuality.

By the way, various ad methods are being proposed in these days. One ofthese ad methods is to send an ad sound message to a caller instead of aconventional ringback tone. However, such an ad sound message is chosenunilaterally by a network operating enterprise. If a caller heard such aunilateral ad sound he or she could talk over a mobile telephone with acalled for a limited time.

However, the method that an ad sound is provided instead of aconventional ringback tone still has the aforementioned drawbacks. Thatis, a caller can not identify a called before the called answers and theuniform ringback tone can not satisfy various subscribers' needs toreveal their individuality.

3. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide method and apparatusfor providing an arbitrary sound chosen or registered by a calledsubscriber for a caller instead of a conventional RBT (RingBack Tone).In the present method and apparatus, an arbitrary RBT-replacing soundchosen or registered by a subscriber is stored in a server separatedfrom mobile exchangers first, and if a certain subscriber is called, aterminating exchanger for the call receives from the server anRBT-replacing sound that is assigned to the called, and then providesthe received sound for a caller instead of a conventional RBT.

A method of providing an arbitrary sound as an RBT in accordance withthe present invention is characterized in that it comprises the stepsof: an HLR's (Home Location Register's) furnishing a call-terminatingexchanger with a first information on whether RBT is to be replaced ornot and the second information informing a route to a sound providingmeans; the call-terminating exchanger's providing an RBT to a caller orrequesting a trunk connection to the sound providing means whilefurnishing with information identifying a called, based on the first andthe second information; and the sound providing means' determining anRBT-replacing sound based on the called-identifying information, andproviding the determined RBT-replacing sound for the caller through thecall-terminating exchanger the trunk connection is made to.

If the call-terminating exchanger detects that the call is answeredwhile the determined RBT-replacing sound is being provided for thecaller, it requests the sound providing means to release the establishedtrunk connection to terminate transmission of the RBT-replacing sound.

The above-characterized method and apparatus provides a personal ad wayby allowing a registered personal introducing or identifying sound to beused instead of an RBT. In addition, a caller is able to know by onlyhearing an RBT-replacing sound whether he or she called rightly. Anenterprise as well as individual persons can advertise efficientlythrough registering an RBT-replacing sound.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram of a mobile communication network which asubscriber-based RBT-replacing sound providing method is embedded in;

FIG. 2 is a procedure chart of an embodiment of the present invention tosubscribe to a subscriber-based RBT-replacing sound providing service;

FIG. 3 is a procedure chart of another embodiment of the presentinvention to change/add subscription information related with anRBT-replacing sound providing service;

FIG. 4 is a procedure chart of another embodiment of the presentinvention to terminate a subscriber-based RBT-replacing sound providingservice;

FIG. 5 is a procedure chart of another embodiment of the presentinvention to conduct a subscriber-based RBT-replacing sound providingservice after completion of the procedure of FIG. 2 and/or 3; and

FIG. 6 shows format of the value-added service parameters including anRBT-replacing service field that are delivered from an HLR to acall-terminating exchanger.

5. MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In order that the invention may be fully understood, a preferredembodiment thereof will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram of a mobile communication network which asubscriber-based RBT-replacing sound providing method is embedded in.

The network of FIG. 1 includes an HLR (Home Location Register) 10;mobile exchangers 31 and 32 (also called ‘MSC’ (Mobile SwitchingCenter)) being capable of communicating with the HLR 10 via a No. 7signaling network 20 based on No.7 signaling transfer protocol; a soundstorager 50, connected to the No. 7 signaling network 20 via a gateway40, storing RBT-replacing sounds and communicating with the exchangers31 and 32; an SSS (Sound Storager Server) 70, connected to the soundstorager 50 via Internet 60, controlling management of RBT-replacingsounds in the sound storager 70; a subscriber db 80 connected to the HLR10 via Internet 60; and a web server 100, connected to Internet 60 via agateway 90, communicating with the sound storager 50 and the SSS 70.

The HLR 10 functions as a conventional network element and it has inevery subscriber profile the first information on whether RBT is to bereplaced or not and the second information informing a route to thesound storager 50. The first and the second information are written inthe value-added service parameters of each subscriber profile.

Either of the mobile exchangers 31 and 32 functioning as conventionalnetwork elements receives the first and the second information of asubscriber through communicating with the HLR 10 when the subscriberrequests location registration. If the location-registered subscriber iscalled, the exchanger 31 or 32 receives an RBT-replacing sound from thesound storager 50 based on the received first and second information,and then provides a caller with the received RBT-replacing sound.

The sound storager 50 stores a plurality of digital sounds to be usedfor replacing an RBT. The stored digital sounds are provided for theexchangers 31 and 32 via the gateway 40.

The SSS 70 communicates with the sound storager 50 via Internet 60 andit chooses a digital sound based on information written in an RBTservice table. A unique code to identify the chosen digital sound isnotified the sound storager 50 in order that a stored sound identifiedby the code is sent to the exchanger 31 or 32 from the sound storager50. The RBT service table used for choice of a digital sound allocatedfor each subscriber includes several codes linked to caller's personalinformation, caller or caller-group identifying information, and/or calltime zone. Therefore, a digital sound can be chosen by the SSS 70 basedon who calls, which group a caller belongs to, age, sex, or occupationof a caller, and/or when a subscriber is called.

Information in the RBT service table is determined when a personsubscribes to the value-added service and is then modified by his or herrequest.

The web server 100, connected to the sound storager 50 and/or the SSS 70via Internet 60, adds digital sounds to the sound storager 50 andconducts operations to update or change contents of the RBT servicetable and codes, if necessary, related digital sounds for the SSS 70.The updating or changing operation is initiated by subscriber's requestthrough web pages of the web server 100.

The operation of the network of FIG. 1 is described below.

When a subscriber applies for subscription to the value-added service ofRBT replacement, all information included in the application is storedin the subscriber db 80 that requests registration of RBT replacementservice to the HLR 10. Then, the HLR 10 writes necessary information invalue-added service parameters of that subscriber.

Afterwards, if location registration for that subscriber is requestedfrom a serving exchanger 31 or 32, e.g., the exchanger 32 the HLR 10provides service-related information and routing information for theexchanger 32 that requested location registration. The routinginformation is needed to make a trunk connection to the sound storager50. The exchanger 32 registers the received information for thatsubscriber in a local subscriber db.

If an arbitrary subscriber at the exchanger 31 calls thelocation-registered subscriber, a trunk connection ‘ISUP’ is madebetween the originating 31 and the terminating exchanger 32 afterrouting information exchange through the HLR 10. After a trunkconnection is setup, the terminating exchanger 32, knowing based on theregistered information of the called subscriber that RBT replacementservice is ON, makes another trunk connection to the sound storager 50addressed by the registered information. At the same time, theterminating exchanger 32 provides the sound storager 50 with informationof the called subscriber, e.g., mobile telephone number and starts topage the called.

The sound storager 50 inquires of the SSS 70 about which digital soundis set now for the called subscriber. Then, the SSS 70 informs the soundstorager 50 of a code for digital sound having been chosen for a givencondition by the called.

The sound storager 50 sends a digital sound identified by the receivedcode to the originating exchanger 31 through the setup trunk connectionbetween the two exchangers 31 and 32. The originating exchanger 31transmits the digital sound from the sound storager 50 to the calleruntil the called answers the paging. Thus, the caller can hear thedigital sound instead of a conventional RBT during the paging. Themoment the called answers the paging, the terminating exchanger 32releases the trunk connection established to the sound storager 50. Theconversation between the caller and the called is communicated throughthe trunk connection made between the originating 31 and the terminatingexchanger 32.

FIG. 2 is a procedure chart of an embodiment of the present invention tosubscribe to a subscriber-based RBT-replacing sound providing service.

The procedure chart of FIG. 2 is explained below in parallel with theoperation of the network of FIG. 1.

If subscription to the RBT-replacement service is asked (S201),subscription information including mobile telephone number of thesubscriber is stored in the subscriber db 80 first and is then deliveredto the HLR 10 (S202). The HLR 10 updates service information of thesubscriber profile to indicate that the subscriber has subscribed to RBTreplacement service (S203).

In addition, the subscriber db 80 also sends the subscriptioninformation including a chosen digital sound and mobile telephone numberto the SSS 70 (S204). The SSS 70 writes a code associated with thechosen digital sound in an RBT service table allocated for that mobiletelephone number (S205).

If the received subscription information includes particulars of soundassignments, namely if the received subscription information assignsdifferent digital sounds for each caller, each caller group, and/or eachtime zone, the SSS 70 writes different codes of the respective digitalsounds in each condition field of the RBT service table, at the stepS205.

Afterwards, if location registration for the subscriber is requestedfrom the exchanger 32 to the HLR 10 (S206), the HLR 10 checks profile ofthe subscriber to know whether the subscriber has been subscribed to theRBT replacement service (S207). If not subscribed, the HLR 10 sends anormal response message to the location registration request to theexchanger 32 as in the conventional request processing procedure(S208-1). However, if subscribed, the HLR 10 sends the exchanger 32 aresponse message including RBT service-related information and routinginformation, e.g., routing digits to direct to the sound storager 50.The exchanger 32 registers the received information in the subscriber'sprofile on a local db, e.g., a VLR (Visitor Location Register) (S208-2).

The RBT service-related information can be carried by an SRBT (SpecificRBT) field, which was defined as a ‘reserve’ field before, of thevalue-added service parameters ‘CallingFeaturesIndicator2’ shown in FIG.6. The 2-bit SRBT field is set to ‘10’ in case that the RBT replacementservice is not activated even though that service is valid bysubscription, and it is set to ‘11’ in case that the RBT replacementservice is in active state. A message including the parameters‘CallingFeaturesIndicator2’ responsive to the location registrationrequest is delivered from the HLR 10 to the exchanger 32.

The service information parameters ‘CallingFeaturesIndicator2’ of FIG. 6are composed of a VMSB field indicative of state of voice mail servicebusy; a VMSU field indicative of state of voice mail service busyunconditional; a VMSNA field indicative of state of voice mail servicebusy no answer; an FMSNA field indicative of state of fax mail serviceno answer; an FMSB field indicative of state of fax mail service busy;an FMSU field indicative of state of fax mail service unconditional; anMC field indicative of multi-call; a CC field indicative of conferencecall; an MUDN field indicative of multiple unit directory number; andothers.

FIG. 3 is a procedure chart of another embodiment of the presentinvention to change/add subscription information related withRBT-replacing sound providing service.

A subscriber, who has subscribed to the RBT replacement serviceaccording to the above-explained procedure of FIG. 2, connects his orher personal computer to the web server 100, first. Then, the web server100 provides web pages on the connected computer screen to enable thesubscriber to change/add information about RBT replacement service.

The subscriber enters mobile telephone number through an adequate webpage and then selects a desired RBT-replacing sound from a list showingall or a part of sounds stored in the sound storager 50. If thesubscriber requests change of RBT-replacing sound to the chosen one(S301), the web server 100 sends a change-requesting message to the SSS70 (S302). The SSS 70 changes the current code with another codeassigned to the chosen RBT-replacing sound in an RBT service tableallocated for the entered mobile telephone number (S303). Afterwards, anRBT-replacing sound identified by the changed code will be providedinstead of a conventional RBT.

If the subscriber selects to add a new RBT-replacing sound on a webpage, the SSS 70 provides an input web page. Then, the subscriber entershis or her mobile telephone number in the input web page and uploads asound file including voice, sound logo, or music through the input webpage (S304). The web server 100 requests the sound storager 50 to add anew RBT-replacing sound by delivering the inputted data to the soundstorager 50 (S305). The sound storager 50 registers the uploaded soundfile as a new RBT-replacing sound (S306) and requests the SSS 70 toassign a new code to the registered RBT-replacing sound (S307). The SSS70 informs the sound storager 50 of the newly-assigned code and changesthe current code with the newly-assigned code in an RBT service tableallocated for the subscriber.

FIG. 4. is a procedure chart of another embodiment of the presentinvention to terminate a subscriber-based RBT-replacing sound providingservice.

If termination of RBT replacement service is asked from a subscriber(S401), the subscriber db 80 deletes subscription information for RBTreplacement service associated with the subscriber, namely, thesubscriber's telephone number, and sends service terminating informationincluding a mobile telephone number to the HLR 10 (S402). The HLR 10alters service information of the subscriber's profile to indicate thatthe subscriber has not subscribed to RBT replacement service (S403).

The subscriber db 80 also sends the service terminating information tothe SSS 70 (S404), then the SSS 70 deletes a current code in an RBTservice table for the subscriber based on the received serviceterminating information (S405).

FIG. 5 is a procedure chart of another embodiment of the presentinvention to conduct a subscriber-based RBT-replacing sound providingservice after completion of the procedure of FIG. 2 and/or 3.

If an arbitrary subscriber within a service zone of the exchanger 31calls another subscriber, who has subscribed to the RBT replacementservice, within the exchanger 32, the originating exchanger 31 sends alocation request message to the HLR 10 to inquire where the called is(S501). Then, the HLR 10 sends a routing request message to theterminating exchanger 32 (S502), and the terminating exchanger 32informs the HLR 10 of routing information, e.g., TLDN (Temporary LocalDirectory Number) in response to the routing request message (S503).

The HLR 10 delivers the routing information to the originating exchanger31 in response to the inquiry step S501 (S504). The originatingexchanger 31 requests the terminating exchange 32 based on the routinginformation to make a trunk connection therbetween (S505).

In the meantime, the terminating exchanger 32 checks the ‘SRBT’ field ofthe value-added service information of FIG. 6 that was registered forthe called in its local db at the step S208-2 in the procedure of FIG.2. If the two bits of the ‘SRBT’ field are ‘11’ which means ‘in-service’and ‘activated’, the terminating exchanger 32 makes a trunk connectionto the sound storager 50 with reference to the routing information thatwas also received and stored at the step S208-2. At this time, mobiletelephone numbers of the caller and the called are sent to the soundstorager 50 (S506). While the above processes are conducted, aconventional RBT is not transmitted to the originating exchanger 31.

Now, respective trunk connections are made between the originatingexchanger 31 and the terminating one 32 and between the terminatingexchanger 32 and the sound storager 50.

The reason that the calling number is informed the sound storager 50besides the called number is to make it possible to provide differentRBT-replacing sound depending upon who the caller is or which groupamong groups classified by the called the caller belongs to.

The sound storager 50 asks an adequate code to the SSS 70 whileproviding the received numbers for the SSS 70 (S507). The SSS 70examines an RBT service table allocated for the called number todetermine a code matched with the calling number (if received), andinforms the sound storager 50 of the determined code (S508) in responseto the code-requesting step S507. The sound storager 50 transmits anRBT-replacing sound corresponding to the determined code to the callerthrough the trunk connections between the sound storager 50 and theterminating exchanger 32 and between the terminating exchanger 32 andthe originating one 31 (S509).

When the SSS 70 determines an adequate code it may consider the presenttime. That is, the SSS 70 may determine a code associated with a timezone the present time belongs to for the called and the caller (ifreceived). Considering the present time, different RBT-replacing soundcan be provided if calling time is different.

If the called answers paging of the terminating exchanger 32 while thedetermined RBT-replacing sound is being transmitted instead of aconventional RBT, the terminating exchanger 32 requests the soundstorager 50 to release the established trunk connection (S510). Then,voice or data are communicated between the caller and the called throughthe trunk connection between the originating 31 and the terminatingexchanger 32 (S511).

In the present RBT-replacing sound providing service, a subscriber canaccess the HLR 10 to change the SRBT field of the value-added serviceparameters.

For instance, when a subscriber presses a special key on his or hermobile telephone the pressed key information is delivered to the HLR 10which changes the 2-bit SRBT field based on the key information oralternately. However, more significant bit of the two can not be alteredbecause it indicates whether or not subscribed to the RBT replacementservice. Less significant bit can be altered by the above way because itindicates whether the RBT replacement service is activated or not.

Thus, in case of a person having subscribed to RBT replacement service,The SRBT field of the value-added service parameters for that person hasa value of ‘10’ or ‘11’ only where the value ‘10’ is indicative of‘inactive’ of the service and ‘11’ indicative of ‘active’.

The special key commands change the ‘SRBT’ field from ‘10’ to ‘11’ orfrom ‘11’ to ‘10’. Consequently, a subscriber can determine at willwhether to use a conventional RBT or RBT-replacing sound he or she haschosen. If the ‘SRBT’ field is ‘10’, a terminating exchanger transmits aconventional RBT to a caller even if a called has subscribed to the RETreplacement service.

1. A system for providing a replacement RBT (RingBack Tone) to a callerin a communication network, comprising: an HLR (Home Location Register)for furnishing first information and second information, wherein thefirst information is whether an RBT is to be replaced with a replacementRBT or not and the second information is information on a route to asound storager; a call-terminating exchanger for receiving the firstinformation and the second information and providing the RBT to a callerif the RBT is not to be replaced or requesting a trunk connection to thesound storager while furnishing the sound storager with the informationidentifying a called if the RBT is to be replaced with an RBT; and asound storage server for providing information to the sound storagerthat matches a replacement RBT to the information identifying thecalled; wherein the sound storager determines which replacement RBT toprovide based on the information identifying the called, and providingthe replacement RBT to the caller through the call-terminating exchangerthat the trunk connection is made to; wherein the sound storager islocated within the mobile communication network while the sound storagerserver is located outside of the mobile communications network; whereinthe first information is set based a special key information receivedfrom a mobile terminal of the called, and the first information iswritten in a reserve field allocated in value-added service parametersof a subscriber's profile; and wherein the sound storager determines theRBT-replacing sound based on at least one of who the caller is, whichgroup the caller belongs to among several groups classified by thecalled, and call time.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first andthe second information are included in a response message to a locationregistration request message, the response message being sent from theHLR to the call-terminating exchanger.
 3. The system of claim 1, whereinthe call-terminating exchanger requests release of the trunk connectionmade to the sound storager when a call is answered by the called, andwherein the sound storager releases the trunk connection in response tothe release request.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the soundstorager changes a current replacement RBT specified for the called withanother replacement RBT by communicating with the sound storager serverthrough communication with a web server operating based on internetprotocol.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the other sound is onealready stored in the sound storager or received newly via the webserver.
 6. The system of claim 4, wherein, after being connected to thesound storager, the sound storager server changes the RBT-replacingsound based on subscriber identifying information entered through aninput web page.
 7. A system for providing a replacement RBT (RingBackTone) to a caller in a communication network, comprising: an HLR (HomeLocation Register) for furnishing first information and secondinformation, wherein the first information is whether an RBT is to bereplaced with a replacement RBT or not and the second information isinformation on a route to a sound storager; a call-terminating exchangerfor receiving the first information and the second information andproviding the RBT to a caller if the RBT is not to be replaced orrequesting a trunk connection to the sound storager while furnishing thesound storager with the information identifying a called if the RBT isto be replaced with an RBT; and a sound storage server for providinginformation to the sound storager that matches a replacement RBT to theinformation identifying the called; wherein the sound storagerdetermines which replacement RBT to provide based on the informationidentifying the called, and providing the replacement RBT to the callerthrough the call-terminating exchanger that the trunk connection is madeto; wherein the sound storager is located within the mobilecommunication network while the sound storager server is located outsideof the mobile communications network; wherein the first information isset based a special key information received from a mobile terminal ofthe called, and the first information is written in a reserve fieldallocated in value-added service parameters of a subscriber's profile;wherein the sound storager determines the RBT-replacing sound based onat least one of who the caller is, which group the caller belongs toamong several groups classified by the called, and call time; andwherein the sound storager changes a current replacement RBT specifiedfor the called with another replacement RBT by communicating with thesound storager server through communication with a web server operatingbased on internet protocol and, after being connected to the soundstorager, the sound storager server changes the RBT-replacing soundbased on subscriber identifying information entered through an input webpage.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first and the secondinformation are included in a response message to a locationregistration request message, the response message being sent from theHLR to the call-terminating exchanger.
 9. The system of claim 7, whereinthe call-terminating exchanger requests release of the trunk connectionmade to the sound storager when a call is answered by the called, andwherein the sound storager releases the trunk connection in response tothe release request.
 10. The system of claim 7, wherein the other soundis one already stored in the sound storager or received newly via theweb server.
 11. A method for providing a replacement RBT (RingBack Tone)to a caller in a communication network, the method comprising:furnishing, by an HLR (Home Location Register), first information andsecond information, wherein the first information is whether an RBT isto be replaced with a replacement RBT or not and the second informationis information on a route to a sound storager; receiving, by acall-terminating exchanger, the first information and the secondinformation and providing the RBT to a caller if the RBT is not to bereplaced or requesting a trunk connection to the sound storager whilefurnishing the sound storager with the information identifying a calledif the RBT is to be replaced with an RBT; and providing, by a soundstorage server, information to the sound storager that matches areplacement RBT to the information identifying the called; wherein thesound storager determines which replacement RBT to provide based on theinformation identifying the called, and providing the replacement RBT tothe caller through the call-terminating exchanger that the trunkconnection is made to; wherein the sound storager is located within themobile communication network while the sound storager server is locatedoutside of the mobile communications network; wherein the firstinformation is set based a special key information received from amobile terminal of the called, and the first information is written in areserve field allocated in value-added service parameters of asubscriber's profile; and wherein the sound storager determines theRBT-replacing sound based on at least one of who the caller is, whichgroup the caller belongs to among several groups classified by thecalled, and call time.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first andthe second information are included in a response message to a locationregistration request message, the response message being sent from theHLR to the call-terminating exchanger.
 13. The method of claim 11,wherein the call-terminating exchanger requests release of the trunkconnection made to the sound storager when a call is answered by thecalled, and wherein the sound storager releases the trunk connection inresponse to the release request.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein thesound storager changes a current replacement RBT specified for thecalled with another replacement RBT by communicating with the soundstorager server through communication with a web server operating basedon internet protocol.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the othersound is one already stored in the sound storager or received newly viathe web server.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein, after beingconnected to the sound storager, the sound storager server changes theRBT-replacing sound based on subscriber identifying information enteredthrough an input web page.